Portland vs. Boston: Garnett returns while Roy heads home

The injury report is decidedly in the Celtics favor when they face the Trail Blazers tonight at TD Garden.

Brandon Roy, the Blazers' best player, will not play. Kevin Garnett, the Celtics' best player, will play.

Kevin Garnett, the Celtics' emotional leader and defensive anchor, will play for the first time since injuring his knee in late December. The Celtics have struggled without Garnett and they need him in the lineup if they are going to make a serious run at the title.

"We know we're going to be better when Kevin comes back," forward Paul Pierce told reporters Wednesday. "Obviously he makes us a better team on both ends of the court."

The Celtics appeared to be in position for another run at an NBA title when they won at Orlando Christmas Day and pushed their record to 23-5, before slumping without Garnett.

Garnett engaged in a full practice Tuesday for the first time since hyperextending his surgically repaired right knee in late December. The Celtics also said Garnett didn't feel any lingering pain from the Tuesday practice during a walkthrough before the team's game at Detroit Wednesday night.

Garnett's return couldn't have come soon enough for the Celtics, who have lost three consecutive games, four of the last five and six of the 10 games that Garnett missed. They've also lost three consecutive games at home and their record has fallen to 27-13.

"These are problems you shouldn't have when you have the goals that we have," Boston coach Doc Rivers told reporters after the Celtics' 92-86 loss at Detroit. "I know it's the dog days and everybody's going through stuff right now, but we're self-imposing our (issues) right now."

Garnett, a 6-foot-11 forward, is averaging 15 points and 7.6 rebounds a game, but his value to the Celtics go far beyond numbers. Garnett is known as one of the NBA's most intense players and his return to should help the Celtics rediscover the focus that has been missing during their almost monthlong slump.

"We've got to look ourselves in the mirror as individuals and get better. That's all it is," Pierce told reporters Wednesday. "We know who we are. We're a defensive team, one of the best defensive teams when we focus and put our mind to it. It's about getting back to the basics and doing all the little things."

Boston scored just 30 second-half points in the loss at Detroit. But the Celtics are acutely aware that their current issues are more than a lack of scoring and run deeper than Garnett's absence.

"When Kevin gets back, we still have to grow as a team," Rivers told reporters Wednesday. "The way I look at it is with him out, our growth has been stunted. When he comes back, it'll continue our growth, but it's not the answer yet. We still have to grow as a team."

When Garnett was injured, the Celtics did not have the depth and youth to fall back on that Portland did when players started falling.

Paul Pierce, 32, is in his 12th season and had fluid drained from his knee that forced him to miss five games in late December. Ray Allen, 34, is midway through his 14th season and has battled ankle problems for the past five seasons. Garnett, 36, is playing in his 15th season and has gone through yet another knee injury. And he was replaced in the lineup by former Blazer Rasheed Wallace, 35, who also is in his 15th season.

Losing one player is nothing to the Trail Blazers, who would have been at a size disadvantage against Boston even without Garnett in the lineup. In addition to losing Roy, who went to Seattle Thursday to get a second opinion on his injured hamstring, Portland is still without Nicolas Batum, Travis Outlaw, Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla.

But the Celtics have too many issues of their own to sort through to worry about opponents. Frustration is mounting within the team. That's where Garnett will provide leadership.

"It'll be a positive to get him back," Pierce said. "It's just good to have him out there, his presence. You feel and you see it when he's on the court."

Roy to undergo cutting-edge treatment today in Seattle; Blazers hopeful for 7-to-10 day return

Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy will undergo a cutting-edge, non-surgical technique today in Seattle to treat his strained right hamstring.

Roy will have Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injected into his hamstring, which is designed to stop the bleeding on his hamstring while also releasing growth factors that aid the healing process.

The procedure will be performed in Seattle by team doctors of the Seattle Seahawks, the NFL team that Blazers owner Paul Allen also owns. Roy on Thursday flew from Philadelphia to Seattle to meet with the Seahawks doctors.

PRP includes extracting blood from Roy, then placing it in a centrifuge for 15 minutes, which separates red blood cells from platelets, forming a gel. That gel is injected into the injured area.

Roy will be re-examined on Thursday before the team leaves for a two-game trip with stops in Houston (Jan. 29) and Dallas (Jan. 30). Roy will miss four games before that examination - tonight in Boston, Saturday in Detroit, and home games against New Orleans (Jan. 25) and Utah (Jan. 27).

Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said he is hoping Roy can return in seven-to-10 days, possibly placing his return for the Jan. 29 game at Houston or a Feb. 1 home game against Charlotte.


The PRP technique has become popular in the NFL because it speeds the recovery.

Another setback for Thunder’s D.J. White

Sometimes it’s just not in the cards.

You can’t blame D.J. White for starting to feel that way about his NBA career. White came out of Indiana as the Big 10 Player of the Year, a big-time rebounder and a guy who could score inside and out. But injuries began to chip away at his game before he left Bloomington, and they are now ruining his second professional season.

White, who missed all but seven games after surgery to remove a benign growth on his jaw, is sidelined again. This time it’s a thumb injury. The Thunder announced Thursday that surgery on White’s thumb was successful and that he’ll miss six to eight weeks.

The Thunder and its rebuilding plan, meanwhile, rolls on without him.

The franchise drafted White in 2008 with the next-to-last pick of the first round, moving up to that spot by dealing second-round picks that turned out to be Walter Sharpe and Trent Plaisted. Ever heard of them? Didn’t think so.

White looked like one of GM Sam Presti’s early finds, and still might turn out to be. He doesn’t turn 24 until this summer.

But while White is sidelined, a couple 20-year-olds are thriving — Serge Ibaka improving by the minute and Byron Mullens gaining playing time. Neither are power forward-types like White, but with the Thunder positions don’t seem to matter much. They’re both skilled bigs, which is what White is, and both have moved ahead of him.

Short of putting Nick Collison into Etan Thomas-like mothballs — which is not going to happen — it was hard to see where White’s OKC minutes were going to come from even when healthy.

Still, before his injury White was playing well with the Thunder’s D-League team in Tulsa.

And it’s not like he’s fallen off the NBA radar. A recent highly speculative piece on NBA.com mentioned White as part of a possible package that could pry Chris Bosh from Toronto.
Highly speculative. Possible. Could. Did you count all the weasel words in that sentence? That’s because there’s almost no chance of such a deal going down. But the fact that White is mentioned by an national writer serves as a reminder of his value, talent and potential, which for now is going to have to sustain D.J. White as he once more starts the comeback trail.

Medically cleared to practice, Trail Blazers Nicolas Batum tests right shoulder for first time since surgery

BOSTON — After finally gaining medical clearance to practice, Nicolas Batum went through his first full workout of the regular season Thursday afternoon in Boston.

And while Batum left the Blazers' practice at Emerson College “encouraged” by his progress, it did not come without incident.

The Blazers did not have enough able bodies to run through five-on-five drills, so Batum went through two-on-two work with Steve Blake, Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph. After at least 20 minutes, Batum halted play and walked away from the workout favoring his right shoulder and grimacing.

Coach Nate McMillan, who watched the last few minutes of the workout from the front row of the gymnasium's bleachers, asked what happened and Batum said he simply had encountered into too many screens.

“Too much,” Batum told McMillan. “Screen after screen after screen.”

Batum downplayed the situation afterward, saying doctors told him he would experience soreness and discomfort went he returned to what McMillan calls “live” contact practices. Batum had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder on Oct. 30 and although he has been doing shooting and conditioning work with assistant coach Monty Williams for weeks, this was his first “contact” practice.

“Good, I feel good,” Batum said, grinning, after his workout. “That’s the first time I’ve played two-on-two in three months. I just received a screen on my shoulder and it hurt a little bit. But no big deal.”

Batum said he still hopes to return when the Blazers host the New Orleans Hornets Monday at the Rose Garden. But he does not expect these cumbersome moments to end for a while.

“(Doctors) said to expect that the first five games it will hurt a little but,” Batum said. “But I’m still coming back. No big deal. I played seven months with an (injured) shoulder, so it’s OK.”

Batum teamed with Cunningham during the two-on-two scrimmage and alternated guarding Blake and Pendergraph on defense. Batum mixed several jump shots with a two-handed baseline dunk on offense.

The play was physical at times, particularly when Batum found himself defending Pendergraph on the block. During one play, Pendergraph gathered a pass on the block and bulled directly into Batum, knocking him to the ground. Batum skidded three-to-five feet on the court, Pendergraph dunked emphatically and McMillan screamed, “Oooooooohhh” from the front row.

Batum picked himself up and did not reveal any pain. That came a few minutes later when he yanked himself from the workout and, eventually, had a bag of ice wrapped around his shoulder.

While Batum has insisted for weeks the he will return on Monday, McMillan said the decision ultimately will be a group call between team trainer Jay Jensen, general manager Kevin Pritchard, Batum and McMillan.

Orlando Magic notes: Jameer Nelson sits out Thursday's practice but expects to play tonight against the Sacramento Kings

Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson sat out the team's practice Thursday afternoon at RDV Sportsplex because his surgically repaired left knee swelled a bit following Wednesday night's win over the Indiana Pacers.

"It was just a routine day off," Nelson said. "Nothing to worry about."

Nelson said he that he expects to play tonight against the Sacramento Kings at Amway Arena.

Nelson had arthroscopic surgery on the knee on Nov. 18 to repair torn meniscus cartilage and returned to the team's rotation on Dec. 21.

Van Gundy, all-star?

Dwight Howard might see a familiar face on the Eastern Conference bench during the All-Star Game on Feb. 14.

Stan Van Gundy could wind up as the East's coach.

The East and West head coaches will be determined by the regular-season standings. The coach in each conference whose team has the best winning percentage through the games of Jan. 31 will serve as his conference's head coach. But Cleveland's Mike Brown and the Los Angeles Lakers' Phil Jackson — the current leaders — are ineligible to coach in this year's all-star game because they were the head coaches last year.

That leaves Boston's Doc Rivers, Atlanta's Mike Woodson and Van Gundy as the top candidates in the East. The Celtics have a 27-13 record. The Hawks have a 27-14 record. And the Magic have a 27-15 record.

The Magic will host the Celtics on Thursday and host the Hawks on Jan. 30. The games will give Orlando a better chance to overtake those teams in the standings.

Layups

● Vince Carter's sprained left shoulder continues to bother him, but General Manager Otis Smith said Thursday that the team hasn't considered keeping Carter out of games until the pain subsides.

● Howard hit a pair of midrange jumpers against the Lakers, but it appears that opposing teams will continue to dare the all-star center to shoot when he spots up from about 15 feet. "We would give him 20 face-up jump shots," Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "I'm not being derogatory. He's a dominant guy within five feet the basket. He's got a guard-like, explosive first step. So, you just play the odds, as we do with everybody that we play. … If somebody is a 30 percent shooter from a certain range, we're inviting that shot. It doesn't matter whether it's Dwight Howard or somebody else."

● Magic players had a routine National Basketball Players Association meeting after practice Wednesday.

● During TNT's broadcast of the Magic-Lakers game on Monday, the announcers said that Van Gundy spoke with actor Jack Nicholson before tipoff. Van Gundy has spoken with Nicholson in the past, but the coach said he didn't chat with Nicholson on Monday night.

T-Mac slips in final voting

No longer playing for the Rockets, Tracy McGrady won’t make his next appearance on the court in the All-Star Game either.

McGrady, who has played 46 minutes this season and was given a leave of absence from the Rockets while they try to trade him, had been in position to start the game throughout the balloting updates, but when the team was announced on Thursday, Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash moved past McGrady and in position to start in the Western Conference backcourt with the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant.

McGrady finished fourth among West Conference guards with teammate Aaron Brooks fifth.

The selections, however, did offer one potential for controversy, with Allen Iverson earning a spot in the Eastern Conference starting backcourt. Iverson, though he played in just 16 games since his return to the 76ers, averaging 14.8 points.

The other selections offered no surprises.

Carmelo Anthony and Tim Duncan will start at forward for the Western Conference. With the Rockets’ Yao Ming out and not on the ballot, ending his seven-year run as the Western Conference starting center, Amar’e Stoudemire was the selection as the starting center for the West.

Rockets forward Trevor Ariza was sixth, one spot ahead of teammate Luis Scola.

LeBron James and Kevin Garnett, who led throughout the voting, were made the starters at forward, with Dwight Howard at center and Dwyane Wade at the guard spot next to Iverson.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: x-LeBron James, Cleveland, 2,549,693; x-Kevin Garnett, Boston, 1,978,116; Chris Bosh, Toronto, 1,164,007; Paul Pierce, Boston, 525,677; Josh Smith, Atlanta, 475,671; Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 313,827; Danny Granger, Indiana, 309,808; Rashard Lewis, Orlando, 302,743; Michael Beasley, Miami, 277,400; Hedo Turkoglu, Toronto, 213,369.

Guards: x-Dwyane Wade, Miami, 2,327,550; x,y-Allen Iverson, Philadelphia, 1,269,568; Vince Carter, Orlando, 1,048,977; Ray Allen, Boston, 710,045; Derrick Rose, Chicago, 571,911; Gilbert Arenas (Was) 545,860; Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 496,255; Rajon Rondo, Boston, 425,590; Jose Calderon, Toronto, 292,909; Mike Bibby, Atlanta, 223,759.

Centers: x-Dwight Howard, Orlando, 2,360,096; Shaquille O’Neal, Cleveland, 856,056; Al Horford, Atlanta, 270,532; Andrea Bargnani, Toronto, 265,024; Brook Lopez, New Jersey, 223,246; Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, 202,072; Jermaine O’Neal, Miami, 159,327; Rasheed Wallace, Boston, 131,084; Brad Miller, Chicago, 102,994; Kendrick Perkins, Boston, 90,278.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: x-Carmelo Anthony, Denver, 2,137,560; x-Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 1,156,696; Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, 1,093,005; Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers, 1,051,784; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, 870,567; Trevor Ariza, Houston, 645,937; Luis Scola, Houston, 580,243; Ron Artest, L.A. Lakers, 368,281; Shawn Marion, Dallas, 363,516; LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland, 309,497.

Guards: x-Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, 2,456,224; x-Steve Nash, Phoenix, 1,222,235; Chris Paul, New Orleans, 1,055,789; Tracy McGrady, Houston, 1,022,492; Aaron Brooks, Houston, 591,930; Jason Kidd, Dallas, 523,708; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 465,211; Chauncey Billups, Denver, 452,983; Tony Parker, San Antonio, 439,536; Brandon Roy, Portland, 422,290.

Centers: x-Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix, 1,824,093; Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers, 981,355; Nene, Denver, 364,543; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 353,155; Antonio McDyess, San Antonio, 328,717; Al Jefferson, Minnesota, 252,777; Greg Oden, Portland, 225,245; Marcus Camby, L.A. Clippers, 188,240; Emeka Okafor, New Orleans, 182,626; Andris Biedrins, Golden State, 167,481.

y-Iverson appeared among Western Conference guards on ballot.

Dwyane Wade named All-Star starter, makes Miami Heat history

WASHINGTON -- Another NBA season, another starting All-Star Game starting assignment for Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade.

This time, he made history.

Wade was named to his sixth consecutive All-Star Game on Thursday, the most appearances by a Heat player. Wade's five selections were tied with Alonzo Mourning.

Starting alongside Wade on the Eastern Conference team will be guard Allen Iverson, forwards LeBron James and Kevin Garnett and center Dwight Howard. The West starters are guards Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, forwards Carmelo Anthony and Tim Duncan and center Amare Stoudemire.

The Feb. 14 game will be played at Cowboys Stadium near Dallas.

``It's always great to be an All-Star and to be voted in as a starter from the fans,'' said Wade, who finished in the top five overall in fan votes. ``It shows your popularity. It's a popularity contest. It's great.''

The process is also controversial, with Iverson receiving more than 1.2 million fan votes despite playing only 19 games so far this season.

Iverson was voted ahead of more productive guards such as Ray Allen, Joe Johnson, Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose.

``I would never say anything about who the fans love,'' Wade said. ``He's done something to get to that point, where they love him no matter what, and that's a testament to him and his ability for so many years.''

Wade finished fourth overall with 2,327,550 votes, trailing Howard, Bryant and James in total fan votes. In his five previous All-Star Games, Wade has averaged 15.2 points, 3.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals.

Wade's popularity remains high despite his decreased production. He is averaging 26.9 points, 6.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds while shooting a career-low 45.7 percent.

The Heat had three other players on the All-Star ballot: forwards Udonis Haslem and Michael Beasley and center Jermaine O'Neal. League coaches will vote next week to determine the 14 reserves.

The Heat is expected to be well represented during the All-Star festivities, with Beasley likely to play in the rookie-sophomore game and Daequan Cook expected to defend his championship in the three-point shootout.

Pistons players, coach say talk of sale not a distraction

Auburn Hills -- The Pistons ownership situation could easily be a distraction.

But, coach John Kuester said after Thursday's practice it hasn't been, and won't be.

"Not for me personally," he said. "All I'm focused on is what we're doing with this group, trying to give all of my efforts for the players, for what Joe (Dumars, president and general manager) wants, and for the people of Detroit. We're trying to give them a product they can be proud of."

If and when a new owner is found, personnel might be affected. But that's probably a long, long ways away.

"We play basketball, that's all we do, we just come out and play," said Richard Hamilton, who first heard about the possibility of a sale Wednesday. "When you hear about the team being sold, it's business, just business. You don't get into it, just hope for the best."

Prince update

Tayshaun Prince (knee) initially felt he could've played Wednesday against the Celtics.

"But it was a situation where I pushed myself pretty hard and there was a little bit of stiffness," said Prince, who hasn't played since Jan. 9. "It wasn't a game I could push it. My team ended up playing pretty well anyway, and it gives me a couple of games."

With back-to-back games Friday and Saturday, don't be surprised if Prince waits until Detroit's following game against Memphis on Wednesday.

When he returns, don't expect Prince to be play more than 30 minutes right away, as he did when he returned from a back injury this season.

"By no means," he said. "We're not going to do that."

Twilight zone

Don't expect the Pistons to use a zone defense every game, but it was a timely tool against the Celtics in the second half.

"A change of pace," Kuester said.

The Pistons work on the zone in practice and had been ineffective with it before Thursday.

"Everyone seemed to be making threes," Kuester said. "This time, we got stops out of it, and what was real healthy about it was our rebounding was good."

Slam dunks

Ben Wallace enjoyed playing against former teammate Rasheed Wallace , and particularly enjoyed a key block he had on Rasheed late.

He could do without Rasheed's endless talking, though.

"I'd be surprised if 'Sheed doesn't talk when he's eating," Ben Wallace said. "I'll have to talk to his wife. I bet he talks when he sleeps."

... Will Bynum (left ankle) is out for today's game against Indiana, and Prince (knee) and Ben Gordon (groin) are game-time decisions.

Nets president Rod Thorn: It's very unlikely we would trade Devin Harris

SAN FRANCISCO – Devin Harris knows his name is out there now, circulated mostly by out-of-towners using speculation and third-hand info to conclude that he’s outta here as soon as the right deal comes along.

He’s buying it, anyway:

“Been through it, done it, lived it. I remember how I got here,” the Nets point guard said. “Have I heard it? Yes. Does it bother me? No. Will I talk to anyone (in management) about it?”

A pause. A laugh. Sounds like derision.

“Nah.”

Too bad. Because all he had to do was walk across the gym Thursday and ask the only guy who is capable of putting the uninformed rumors to rest.

“It’s very, very unlikely that we’d trade Devin. I never say never, but it’s very unlikely that he’s going to be traded,” Nets president Rod Thorn said as he watched the start of practice at a health club in the city’s financial district.

“I read the same things you do. There was one thing I saw the other day that was just wrong ­— about we were talking to Washington about trading Devin for Caron Butler? We never had one conversation with Washington about Caron Butler in five years — period.

“But you expect speculation, especially when you have a team that has a record like we do.”

That’s about as definitive as Thorn can get, because someone can make him an offer he can’t refuse at any time before the Feb. 18 deadline.

It’s just that Harris would like to believe that as bad as 3-38 looks, he’s a cornerstone for a franchise that has a bright future if it drafts and trades and invests wisely over the next seven months.

“At this point of my career, I would like to think I am” a key piece, Harris said. “But these are very unusual circumstances. You get a sense that anything can happen.”

Still, without solicitation, Thorn added this for emphasis:

“We value Devin. We think he’s a terrific player,” he said. “I don’t see it happening. But again, you know me — I never say I won’t trade anybody — because you never know what anyone’s going to offer you. That’s why you can never speak in absolutes. But we value Devin.”

Indeed, Harris’ future has been discussed for some time by management. There are some in the organization who are bound to him, because he has been as professional as a leader can be under these circumstances.

But others wonder what the first group has been drinking, carping about how Harris is too injury-prone, too indifferent a defender, and too poor a jump-shooter to rely on long-term.
Basically, the stuff any group of fans would debate.

But Thorn’s statement raises an ancillary issue: Shouldn’t anything and everything be on the table at this point, Harris’s value notwithstanding?

“I don’t think it’s probable that we’ll touch it,” Thorn said of his one untouchable — the 2010 cap space — “but because there are no finites to this game, you never say that you won’t ever touch it.

“If you can get a player this year who would be a really good building block going forward” and use expiring contracts and next year’s cap space to get him, “then you always do something like that.”

A mere building block? Or a star?

“Well, a player who could make a material difference,” Thorn said. “Now, the probability of that is not high. But there will be trades, and you’re already starting to hear about them. There are teams trying to get under the luxury tax, teams trying get under the salary cap.
Some teams are just figuring out that they’re not very good, so they say, ‘Let’s get started over again.’ And then you have the four or five teams that think they can win the championship, and figure they need just one more player.

“So you’re liable to see a lot of different things happen in the next four weeks. It will be very active, I believe.”

One thing that won’t happen: The Nets won’t be fielding many calls about the availability of Brook Lopez, who has averaged 24.4 points and 9.8 rebounds (.575 shooting) in his last five games.

“We’re not getting much there,” Thorn said of solicitations from his peers. “They know better than that.”

Might the Pistons swap Prince for Memphis' Rudy Gay?

ESPN.com's Chad Ford floated an interesting trade possibility today (warning: it's a subscription-only link). He thinks the Pistons might be a good fit for Rudy Gay, who is on Memphis' trading block.

Citing unnamed NBA general managers who have spoken to the Grizzlies, Ford says Memphis is concerned about losing Gay as a restricted free agent this summer and also thinks it's one defensive presence away from being a playoff team.

He goes on to say that the Pistons have been looking to move small forward Tayshaun Prince, who seemingly would provide what Memphis is looking for, but Detroit might have to throw in a first-round draft pick to make the trade more enticing.

For what it's worth, Gay is a high-flying 23-year-old who has become a borderline star averaging 20.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this year. He would be another young piece around which the Pistons can build, but as a wing, he doesn't provide what they really need: a post player.

Utah Jazz: Memphis is interested in Brewer, report says

SALT LAKE CITY — Fresh off a win Wednesday night at San Antonio, and at the tail end of a stretch with victories in five of their last six outings, a trade rumor is dogging the Jazz.

At the center of evident talks: starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer and at least one first-round draft pick.

General manager Kevin O'Connor had no comment Thursday regarding a newspaper report revealing that Memphis and Utah have discussed a potential trade that would send defense-minded swingman Brewer to the Grizzlies.

According to The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal and well-sourced beat writer Ron Tillery, the bid for Brewer "is the latest development in the Grizzlies' quest to improve their bench."

Memphis is known to have initiated the talks, which — while no agreement appears imminent — evidently remain alive.

Utah — which sent rookie point guard Eric Maynor and injured forward Matt Harpring's expiring contract to Oklahoma City last month as part of a cost-cutting deal that will save the Jazz more than $10 million — has not ruled out making additional deals prior to the NBA's Feb. 18 trade deadline.

That includes potential swaps involving not only Brewer, but also others, including two-time NBA All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer.

The Grizzlies are known, too, to be talking with multiple teams regarding possible trade and player-acquisition scenarios, including one that would send Dorell Wright from Miami to Memphis and another involving the possible signing of free agent Von Wafer.

The Commercial Appeal reported that Utah and Memphis "have mainly talked about which future first-round pick the Jazz would receive in return for Brewer," and "it is not known whether other players are involved."

According to the newspaper, "Memphis is not willing to part with its own 2010 pick. The Griz have made available their late first-round selections (via Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers) for the right deal. The Jazz may also be seeking a 2011 pick."

Memphis has enough team payroll salary space to absorb Brewer's salary for this season of $2,717,161 without taking any salary back from Utah in return.

Such a deal would leave the Jazz about $2.1 million shy of getting under the NBA's payroll luxury-tax threshold of $69.92 million.

O'Connor, the Jazz GM, is on record earlier this month as saying the franchise is not committed to getting under the threshold "at all cost."

But getting under the tax line would allow Utah to avoid a dollar-for-dollar penalty for exceeding it, and — should they be able to get under it by season's end — reportedly would also allow the Jazz to receive a $4.5 million rebate payout in July.

The Jazz and Brewer, a product of the University of Arkansas, were unable to reach agreement on a contract extension last season.

Brewer will be a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning which team that holds his rights and tenders a $3.7 million qualifying offer could match whatever offer sheet he is able to secure in the NBA's summer shopping market.

If he were to go to Memphis, Brewer likely would be buried behind swingmen Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo on the Grizzlies' roster.

Brewer — who had four points on 2-for-8 field shooting in 34 minutes against the Spurs on Wednesday — is averaging 9.9 points this season, down from a career-best 13.7 per game last season.

The fourth-year pro is also shooting 49.4 percent while averaging 32.7 minutes, 3.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

He's started all of the Jazz's 42 games this season, and all but one of the 157 games in which he played the previous two seasons.

Brewer's agent, Henry Thomas, was out of his Chicago office Thursday and did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the trade rumor.

Pistons might be tough sale

When Pistons owner Karen Davidson decides to sell the team, she doesn't have to be involved in any of the negotiations if she selects a broker to handle the transaction.

Two leading brokerage dealers are Goldman Sachs and Smith Barney of New York, who've brokered several professional sports deals.

Using a sports broker is one of three options she has when selling the team, according to experts in sports negotiations and brokerage firm representatives.

Here are the others:

• She can set a price and sell to the first firm that agrees to the price. (This is unlikely because of the current rocky economy.)

• She can find someone like St. Louis Blues managing partner Dave Checketts, who finds limited partners and agrees to run the team for a fee.

But an expert in sports franchises predicts Davidson will find it difficult to sell the Pistons in the current economic climate. He said the $479 million value Forbes magazine placed on the franchise is too high, and predicts it'll sell for $350 million.

"If the negotiating price is based on the Forbes value, there's not going to be many takers," said Detroit Mercy professor of economics Mike Bernacchi.

"People say Detroit is a great sports town, but that is way overvalued. It has to be a value based on what's happening now. I am sure the negotiations are going to be tough. The Pistons will want to sell based on what they were and what they've done. The buyer will want to buy it for where they are now and for where they are headed in the future."

Wayne State economics professor Stephen Spurr is more optimistic. He believes the state unemployment rate will decline soon and more people will attend Pistons games.

"This is not a permanent situation," Spurr said of the economy. "It's going to come back."

Spurr questions if the franchise is being run correctly since the death of Bill Davidson last year.

"If it's a situation where ownership doesn't have as much interest in the team, then it is definitely worthwhile to find a new buyer who can come in, negotiate contracts and be more involved with the team," he said. "As a casual observer and not as an expert, it seems as if the team is kind of drifting now."

Pistons value is declining

Bernacchi said the Pistons need a buyer who's youthful, aggressive and willing to take chances to stimulate a state fan base. Increasing the fan base will be tough with the Pistons' play in decline. They won the 2004 championship and advanced to six straight Eastern Conference finals from 2002-08.

But the core of those teams is slowly being disbanded, with only Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton the primary holdovers. The Pistons are 15-26 this season and 11th in the Eastern Conference. They'd miss the playoffs if the regular season ended today.

Bernacchi predicts the Pistons' value will be considerably less next year because of several factors, one of which is the team's recent lackluster ticket sales. The Pistons' 259 straight sellout streak ended last season, and they are not expected to earn a profit this season.

There are factors around the NBA that also could devalue the Pistons.

Twelve franchises lost money last season, and two years ago, team owners in smaller markets complained to commissioner David Stern they couldn't be profitable unless all teams shared local television revenue.

According to Forbes, Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley saw the value of his team decline 13 percent to $257 million. Bobcats owner Bob Johnson has debts of $160 million and his team is worth $22 million less than the $300 million he paid for it six years ago.

It's even worse in New Jersey. Nets owner Bruce Ratner announced he was moving the team to Brooklyn after buying the team in 2004. That has yet to materialize, and the team now is giving away tickets. The value of the team has declined by $31 million and is expected to be sold to a Russian businessman.

The Pistons' value also might decline, but it'll be worth far more than the $8 million Bill Davidson paid in 1974. Still, sponsorship and attendance is declining.

Who could buy the team?

Red Wings and Tigers owner Mike Ilitch might not have the cash to purchase the Pistons, but one of his options is to buy The Palace and have his Olympia Entertainment run the Pistons for Karen Davidson.

There's been speculation Ilitch will sign a three-year lease to move the Wings to The Palace from Joe Louis Arena until a new downtown facility is built.

"You know the old saying, buy low and sell high?" Bernacchi asked. "The good news for whoever buys (the Pistons) is they can turn the franchise around quickly. The thing is the economy is moving in the right direction and the Pistons are moving in the wrong direction."

To buy the Pistons, an owner needs to come up with 30 percent of the sale price and pro sports leagues normally allow a line of credit of between $125 million and $150 million for assistance. So if the Pistons sold for $400 million, the primary owner would need to pony up $120 million cash. The line of credit could push that figure to $250 million, and the potential buyer would then need to find limited partners to make up the difference.

The NBA has to approve the financial agreement and conduct background checks. Plus, the new ownership group would need two-thirds approval from the league's Board of Governors.

The best option for Karen Davidson could be finding a broker, who would take most of the work out of her hands.

They'd come up with a list price, find potential buyers and do background checks on all of them. Davidson also could appoint a go-between, such as Palace president Tom Wilson, to transfer information back and forth. The brokerage normally takes one percent of the sale price as payment.

Another option is for someone like Wilson to find a group of investors to buy the team. He can deal directly with Davidson and there are no brokerage fees.

Change of scenery

There are a number of NBA teams on the market or considering moving to another city.

Detroit: Owner Karen Davidson said Wednesday she's exploring the possibility of selling the Pistons.

Charlotte: The Bobcats haven't been able to gain traction in the Charlotte market and owner Robert Johnson wants to sell, maybe to part-owner Michael Jordan.

Memphis: Owner Michael Heisley desperately wants to sell but might wait until 2012, when certain attendance and suite benchmarks won't be reached, and move to another city.

Washington: The late Abe Pollin's estate is being appraised, and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis is interested in the Wizards and the Verizon Center if the price is right.

New Jersey: A deal has been brokered to sell the Nets to Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who wants to build an arena in Brooklyn, N.Y. We'll see.

Sacramento: The Maloof brothers want a new arena in downtown Sacramento. If not, could the Kings move to Las Vegas?

Golden State: Reports surfaced recently owner Chris Cohan is shopping the Warriors.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson declines Knicks' 40th anniversary invitation

Phil Jackson, back at the Garden tonight, has declined the Knicks' invitation to attend their 40th anniversary celebration of their first championship, according to a source.

The 64-year-old Lakers coach was a power forward on the Knicks' 1969-70 championship team in his third NBA season, though he spent the entire season on injured reserve with a back injury.

Jackson didn't miss a game during their second championship season in 1972-73. He also has 10 NBA titles as a head coach, including six with the Bulls.

BERMAN'S MIDTERM GRADES

The Knicks brass wanted Jackson to attend their 40th anniversary night. The Post reported in November the Knicks are planning to celebrate the 1969-70 season with a big night in February, but have yet to announce it. The organization has targeted Feb. 22 against Milwaukee.

The Lakers have an off night in Memphis, and the Knicks wanted to fly him in, but Jackson felt he couldn't leave the team. Plus, he's dealt with health issues that have made traveling difficult and put into jeopardy whether he will return next season.

"He can't make a trip like that during the Lakers' season," said Lakers' executive Jeanie Buss, who is Jackson's girlfriend.

All other living members of the 1969-70 club are expected to attend, along with relatives of the two deceased players (Dave DeBusschere and Nate Bowman).

***

Jeff Van Gundy is back at the Garden, doing the Knicks-Lakers for ESPN tonight.

Van Gundy last season ripped David Lee for a quote in which he said after getting swept during "dream week" by the Lakers, Cavs and Celtics, "It's the best 0-3 week I've ever had."

Said Lee yesterday: "Maybe it wasn't worded correctly. I don't think it turned out to be a huge deal. Jeff knows I'm a competitor."

Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard elected an All-Star Game starter for the third season in a row

The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard now knows for certain how he'll spend Valentine's Day.

He'll be the starting center for the Eastern Conference in the NBA All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas.

The league announced the final results of fan balloting on Thursday night. Howard received 2,360,096 votes, almost three times as many votes as his next closest competitor at the position, Cleveland's Shaquille O'Neal.

"I'm just happy to be able to represent my team and my organization in the all-star game," Howard said. "I'm going to continue to work to get better. I strive to be the best player I can be, and one of the best players to play. Playing in the all-star game, just being around the other all-stars and just playing in front of the fans, it's a great honor."

Cleveland's LeBron James finished with a league-best 2.55 million votes. Boston's Kevin Garnett, Philadelphia's Allen Iverson and Miami's Dwyane Wade also were elected starters for the East.

The Magic's Vince Carter finished third among East guards, almost 220,000 votes behind Iverson.

The Los Angeles' Lakers Kobe Bryant was the West's leading vote-getter. Denver's Carmelo Anthony, San Antonio's Tim Duncan, and Phoenix's Amar'e Stoudemire and Steve Nash also will start for the West.

The reserves will be determined through a vote of league head coaches and will be announced on Thursday.

Howard now has been elected an All-Star starter three seasons in a row.

"He's very deserving," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "There's nobody else that could've been chosen the all-star starter in the Eastern Conference. He's been phenomenal."

Kevin Garnett, Celtics bounce back in OT win

Ray Allen was just 2 for 13 when he hit a 3-pointer with 42 seconds left in overtime to give the Boston Celtics [team stats] a 98-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

LaMarcus Aldridge followed with a missed 3-pointer, and after a scramble at midcourt Allen wound up with the ball and passed it ahead to Tony Allen for the breakaway dunk. Rudy Fernandez had a pair of 3-point attempts in the final 10 seconds, but both missed.

Kevin Garnett returned after missing 10 games with a hyperextended right knee and scored 13 points. Paul Pierce [stats] scored 24 for the Celtics before fouling out on an offensive foul with 1.1 seconds left in regulation.

Andre Miller scored 28 for Portland, and Aldridge had 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Cavs’ Delonte West breaks finger on shooting hand

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - First, Mo Williams. Then, Delonte West.

With the speed in which Cleveland starting point guards are dropping with injuries these days, it’s no wonder Daniel Gibson was a little skittish after practice.

"I need to stay away from those two guys," Gibson said.

The Cavaliers’ backcourt woes worsened Friday when the team learned that West broke his left ring finger in Thursday night’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers. West’s injury to his shooting hand came in his first start since replacing Williams, who could miss up to six weeks for the Eastern Conference leaders after spraining his left shoulder in a game Tuesday against Toronto.

West will miss Saturday’s game against Oklahoma City, but the Cavs do not yet know how long he will be sidelined. Doctors need a few days for the swelling to go down before they can complete their evaluation.

West fractured his finger while scrambling after a loose ball in the fourth quarter of the Cavs’ victory — their second over the defending NBA champions in less than a month.

Gibson, whose minutes had been cut lately, will take over point guard duties until West returns. Gibson normally runs the point for Cleveland’s scout team.

"The last couple weeks, I’ve been hoping to catch some minutes and it looks like now I got my wish," Gibson said. "I just want to go out there and have fun. That’s going to be my biggest thing, just enjoy the moment. You get these opportunities and when they come you just want to take advantage of them."

Gibson’s time had waned mostly because of his shaky defense and Brown’s preference to have bigger guards on the floor. Despite his defensive limitations, Gibson leads the league in 3-point accuracy (48 percent) and has averaged 5.6 points in 37 games off the bench.

Cavs coach Mike Brown said general manager Danny Ferry and his staff were talking about signing another point guard. In the meantime, Gibson will get help from LeBron James and Anthony Parker.

"We may have to do it by committee," said Brown, who said there are other factors to consider. "One, is how long is he (West) going to be out for? The second one is, knock on wood, what if Gib goes down? Nobody thought that Delonte would go down in the game after Mo.

"We have capable ballhandlers."

Gibson’s objectives are to take care of the ball, run Cleveland’s offense and not force shots.

"The best thing about this team is I don’t have to go out there and try to do something amazing," he said. "We have LeBron, Shaq, AP (Parker). We have a lot of guys on the floor capable of doing big things. So what I have to do out there is just go out and be solid. That’s my main focus — go out and play great defense, keep guys motivated and make a couple shots easier for my teammates.

"I played point guard in college so now I get the opportunity to play it at the highest level."

West’s start on Thursday was his first this season. He scored just three points, but added four rebounds, three assists and two blocks in nearly 43 minutes. He also guarded Kobe Bryant down the stretch, and with some double-team help, did a decent job on the Lakers superstar.

"The way the game went was kind of how Delonte’s game is," said Brown. "He’s a tough, take-what-the-defense-gives-you type of guy. That’s how we play and that’s what you like. He stepped up and hit a big 3 for us late in the game. I was a little worried because I didn’t want to play him too many minutes but I got him just enough rest in the first half that I ran him the whole second half.

"He played a good game for us."

Celtics break down again

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The crowd that ruined the Indiana Pacers six years ago was trying to stir the pot again.

Rasheed Wallace, in his return to his previous NBA home, was both cheered and heartily booed. Glen Davis was so enraged by taunts from a fan that he unleashed an obscene response, which led to a complaint lodged with league security.

But the inglorious Detroit Pistons crowd had nothing to do with what sank the Celtics [team stats] last night in a 92-86 loss. For the second straight game the C’s played a great first half, only to give life to the other side over the last 24 minutes.

The Celts have lost three straight games and four of their last five.

Coach Doc Rivers likes to say that he likes the record, now a fading 27-13 that remains second best in the Eastern Conference, but not the performances.

He’s not alone.

“We knew at the half what we were up against, we were up against ourselves,” Rajon Rondo [stats] said of the false sense of security brought on by a 56-47 halftime lead, and what at one stage was a 12-point edge, before their mojo disappeared.

Paul Pierce [stats] scored 19 of his 21 points in the first half.

Ray Allen (3-of-10 shooting) didn’t make his first basket until there was 3:27 left.

Rodney Stuckey’s 27 point performance for the Pistons, complemented by a downtown hail of 3-pointers from Charlie Villanueva in the second half, was simply too much to overcome.

The Celtics, fueled by their low second-half ebb, didn’t score a single second-chance point. Any C’s basket appeared to be made in a state of panic.

Rivers, whose expression loses a little more humor with each one of these games, pointed the finger at himself as well as the rest of his locker room.

“I always point the finger first at me, and I told them that I’m obviously not doing something,” Rivers said. “So I have to go, watch film and figure it out. I just thought we gave up a horrible 3 (by Austin Daye) at the end of the first half. Bad defense hurt us on that play. I think that carried over into the first four or five minutes of the third quarter, and all of a sudden we had a fight on our hands and we couldn’t get it going.

“It is very difficult to turn the switch on and off right now, and that is what we are doing. We are dropping games because of it, too.”

There was a lot of talk about looking at film and looking in the mirror, enough of it that the Celtics may require 15 separate screens this morning.

But there is little doubt that this team, with Kevin Garnett expected to return for tomorrow night’s TD Garden game against the Portland Trail Blazers, has reached a crisis mode.

“It’s unfamiliar to us,” Pierce said, “but this is a strong-minded team.

“We can’t keep this up. It’s playing with fire.”

Allen Iverson voted in; Steve Nash, Tim Duncan get All-Star spots

NEW YORK — Allen Iverson [stats] has been voted to start in the All-Star game, while Steve Nash and Tim Duncan made late moves to claim starting spots for the Western Conference.

Nash passed the inactive Tracy McGrady as the second guard, while Duncan disappointed Dallas fans hoping to see Dirk Nowitzki start by rallying past the Mavericks forward.

LeBron James was the leading vote-getter for the Feb. 14 game at Cowboys Stadium, becoming the first player to earn at least 2.5 million votes three times.

Joining James and Iverson as East starters Thursday were Miami guard Dwyane Wade, Orlando center Dwight Howard and Boston forward Kevin Garnett.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was picked in the West along with Phoenix center Amare Stoudemire and Denver forward Carmelo Anthony.

A January night to remember in June

CLEVELAND: The team that has some kind of fourth-quarter mojo going this season did it again Thursday night.

In a January game with June feelings, the Cavs played without Mo Williams and faced the defending-champion Los Angeles Lakers.

No Mo?

No problem.

Well, small problem. Nothing that a superstar could not overcome, though.

With the game on the line, the Cavs turned to the guy they turn to with Williams in the game. LeBron James, the reigning MVP, made play after play after play in the final quarter as the Cavs beat the Lakers for the second time in two games this season.

''That's what it's about,'' James said. ''I know you guys like asking why we're waiting 'til the fourth quarter so much. We just know that's money time.

''Eighty-five percent of the time we know games are won in the fourth quarter. In our case 95 percent of the time.''

First, James scored seven points in a row (on a 3 and jumpers from 20 and 24 feet) to give the Cavs an 87-80 lead.

The Lakers came back — they are the Lakers — but James made an out-of-this-world block on Pau Gasol and followed with a driving layup to put the Cavs up by two.

When Gasol missed two free throws with 24.1 seconds left, the Cavs had command.

With 23.4 seconds left and the Cavs waiting to inbound the ball, James rapped right along to Forever with Eminem.

See the superstar.

See the superstar sing to every word.

Anyone here nervous?

''It was a fun game,'' James said. ''A lot of people told me it was fun to watch. Well it was fun to play.''

The game was sealed when James made a flying between-his-legs save and the Cavs up 92-87.

In the end, it was a fourth quarter for forever, as James scored 12 points, grabbed three rebounds and added the block and nearly inexplicable save.

And the Cavs beat the Lakers 93-87.

Which makes a statement in the regular season. But as everyone learned a year ago, the regular season takes a very significant back seat to the playoffs.

In this game, Lakers coach Phil Jackson made the unusual move of sitting Kobe Bryant for more than six minutes of the fourth quarter.

When Bryant went back in the game, Cavs coach Mike Brown doubled him every time he touched the ball.

Jackson chose not to double James.

Somehow you'd have to think a 10-ring coach like Jackson would have something else in store come the playoffs.

Just as you'd think Gasol would not clank two free throws in a clutch situation.

Another moment came in the third quarter, when James ran full tilt down the court and toward the first row of fans.

James hurdled full speed over the front row — just to the right of Jackson.

Jackson leaned ever-so-slightly to the left as James flew by.

With most attention on James, Jackson then gestured toward the court to voice his displeasure about something.

It was that kind of game, that kind of night — where a flying superstar was barely noticed and secondary to the game on the court.

It really doesn't get a lot better on a Thursday night in January. A raucous and earsplitting crowd jamming the Q. Lil Wayne sitting courtside, Kim Kardashian throwing a party downtown after the game.

The night even included Bryant scoring his 25,000th point, making him the youngest in NBA history to reach that mark.

But for the Cavs, this night was also about the next six weeks. The news that Mo Williams' strained left shoulder could keep him out that long brought a sobering tone to the pregame.

Williams is the Cavs' second-leading scorer. He's played in all but one game since he joined the Cavs. He shoots 90 percent on free throws.

Most important, he provides a legitimate scoring option outside — as his 43 percent on 3-point attempts attests.

The Cavs missed that scoring against the Lakers, as Delonte West was not the good Delonte, and Anthony Parker scored just eight points.

The Cavs will have to adjust for Williams' absence, but they've made adjustments in the past.

Last season, West broke a bone in his wrist.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas missed a few games.

The Cavs still won 66 games.

Injuries happen in the NBA. Bryant played against the Cavs with a fracture in his right index finger. This season's Cavs might have more and better depth, what with Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas and J.J. Hickson (an outstanding game with 11 points and 14 rebounds) and Anderson Varejao.

It will miss Williams.

But it has West — and it's obvious now why the Cavs treated him so delicately after his weapons-possession arrest in the offseason. He now becomes the starting point guard.

Make no mistake: The Cavs will win.

They will win because they have James, who will not let them lose.

And they will win because they have the personnel to adjust and the flexibility to play different lineups. They will win.

Just as they did against the Lakers, twice.

They will win, and they will play deep into the postseason in May and June.

Of that, we can be sure.

Iverson thanks fans for their votes

Once the fans' votes were in yesterday, the 76ers' Allen Iverson was once again a starter on an NBA all-star team, causing some to question whether the selection method was fair.

The 34-year-old Iverson, who is in his 14th season in the league, was a choice of the fans for the 10th time. He will join forwards LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, guard Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, and center Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic in the lineup for the Eastern Conference all-stars.

This year's game will be played on Feb. 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It will be Iverson's 11th straight appearance in the event.

Though he's played in only 19 games this season - 16 with the Sixers after signing with the team as a free agent in December - Iverson received 1,269,568 votes to place him second behind Wade among Eastern Conference guards.

"I just want to thank everybody for their support this season, and it's an honor that the fans have voted me into the All-Star Game as a starter," Iverson said in a statement released by the Sixers. "The fans are who make us, and make the NBA so popular. This year is even more special because I'll be representing a city and fans that I love, and a team that has been such a big part of my life throughout my career."

Not everyone is happy. Earlier in the week Denver's Chauncey Billups complained about the fans' vote. "I would rather it be something like the players vote [for the starters]," he told Denver reporters. "Everybody knows who should be there or who is playing good enough as far as your peers go."

Iverson, who is averaging 14.4 points and 4.4 assists per game, has been hindered in recent weeks by arthritis in his left knee. He has mostly played through the injury, but he told NBA.com that his condition could cause him to skip playing in the all-star game.

The Sixers have not had a player make the all-star team since Iverson went in 2006 during his first stint with the team. "I want to be able to make sure my fans are happy, because they want to see me play," the two-time All-Star Game most valuable player said. "But I have to be smart about the future of this franchise right here."

Earlier in the week, Larry Brown, Iverson's former coach with the Sixers and the current Charlotte coach, told the Associated Press he would support Iverson's participation.

"I've seen Willie Mays and those older guys start based on what they've done in their career in baseball, and we've had that happen in basketball for years, guys that have made a contribution," Brown said. "That's why the fans are involved, and I think it's kind of neat that they are involved. They support the league, they vote for their favorite players. I always look at a guy's body of work."

One man, one All-Star vote

The NBA announced its All-Star starters last night in an election that shocked the Commonwealth.

As my faithful parishioners have known for decades, I have an unwavering precept against losers being invited to leave their pews to participate on the altar during All-Star weekend . . . even though the game means squat and I'd rather rub my eyes with carbon paper than watch it.

That said, because of the circumstances beyond my control -- namely "superior squads" in the East undeserving of multiple place settings, together with a bevy of bad teams -- we are forced to violate our first commandment.

The teams are composed of a dozen a side . . . four forwards, four guards, two centers and two wild cards regardless of position, health-care stance or religious affiliation. Before making my selections, I want to congratulate the parallel populace for keeping the memories of Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson alive these last few months.

The former, the NBA's version of Conan O'Brien, has been blackballed by his own employer while the latter was such a misfit in Memphis, the Grizzlies broke down their season before and after his departure (you know, B.I. and D.I.).

EAST

Guards -- Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose.

Forwards -- LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Gerald Wallace, Antawn Jamison.

Centers -- Dwight Howard, David Lee.

Wild cards -- Paul Pierce and Joakim Noah.

Actuality is not having to say we're sorry for excluding Kevin Garnett, whom "sophisticated" fans voted to start -- despite averages of 15 points and 7.8 boards and missing 11 games -- and counting -- of a possible 40.

By choosing Garnett and Iverson, the mindless greatly diminished Lee's odds to crash the Feb. 14 party in Dallas and just about sealed Noah's and Jamison's doom.

WEST

Guards -- Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Brandon Roy.

Forwards -- Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer (unless he opts out), Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan.

Centers -- Amar'e Stoudemire (because there is no one else), Chris Kaman.

Wild cards -- Zach Randolph and Monta Ellis, who averages 10.5 field goals and 22.7 shots per game, just like Kobe.

Randolph's stats (20.8 points and fourth-best 11.5 rebounds) measure up to any and all big men. What's more, he has been responsible for favorably deciding as many games in the heart of the matter as anyone in the league.

Should the West's head coaches disregard Pau Gasol's injury absence from 17 of 41 games and simply consider his 17-point, 11.2-rebound averages, as well as how vital he is to the Lakers' past and future success, then Randolph's chances become all but Null & Voit.

That is, unless Boozer is snubbed. I cannot see that happening unless Deron Williams is named as a wild card. Someone from the Jazz merits All-Star status. Maybe Yatta Gaines, who has played three minutes in three games since his trifecta to beat the Cavaliers earned him a second 10-day contract, could get the last shot of every quarter.

As an extra added bonus, because you called before midnight, I'm throwing in my choices (nine per team) for the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge.

Prologue: It's astounding that four of the top five selections -- 8 of the first 12 and 12 of 17 -- from last June didn't make my cut for whatever reasons . . . Blake Griffin's health, playing overseas (MVP Ricky Rubio, whose Barcelona outfit is on a 25-game win streak against Spanish and Euroleague comp; 35-1, overall, including exhibition), slow learning curve, etc.

Plebes -- Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings, DeJuan Blair, Omri Casspi, Stephen Curry, Jonny Flynn, Taj Gibson, Ty Lawson, Marcus Thornton.

Sub, if needed, James Harden.

Too bad A.J. Price didn't get a legit chance -- consistent minutes -- earlier. So far in January (12 games), he's averaging 10.2 points (five double figures, including high of 23 vs. the Thunder) and 3.1 assists.

Sophs -- Rose, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Marc Gasol, Brook Lopez, Eric Gordon, Jason Thompson, George Hill and O.J. Mayo (a few foolish flings from far away).

Sub, if desperate, Michael Beasley.

Too bad Jerryd Bayless (8.2 points, 2.3 assists) doesn't get to strut his stuff full time for a team that has more daylight for him than the Blazers. More times than not this season, he has shown the flair to fly past defenders (13 double-figure scoring efforts, topped by 31 vs. the Spurs). Few are as adept at getting to the line where he regularly cashes welfare checks.

***

When I heard "New York at Indianapolis" Sunday, like every other red, white and blue American, I assumed they were finally resuming the 1972 ABA finals. The Pacers were ahead four games to two. One more victory in that series and Rick Barry's crew would have matched what the current halfway house has in this first half-season.

Knicks wonder how to stop Kobe

Is there really a fitting encore to "61?" The Knicks find out tonight.

Kobe Bryant has made sure that number no longer is sole copyright of Roger Maris in New York. And Bryant's "61" needed no asterisk. Just highlight the number in purple and gold.

Bryant pulverized the Knicks last February in a historic Garden evening awash in "MVP" chants and wild cheers from too many purple-and-gold-clad patrons. He set the arena's single-game scoring record with 61 points as a prelude to winning his fourth NBA championship.

BERMAN'S MIDTERM GRADES

Bryant's 61 broke Bernard King's 1984 record of 60 and Michael Jordan's opponent record of 55 for most points scored in an NBA game (set in 1995) at the Garden.

"It's a blessing to do what you love and to have moments like this," said Bryant, who claimed he was motivated by having to see Spike Lee after the game. Bryant and Spike met to put the final touches on a documentary, and Bryant said he didn't want to endure Lee's taunts had they lost.

The world-champion Lakers grace the Garden tonight in a nationally televised showdown -- Bryant's first return since his record-shattering night.

Coach Mike D'Antoni admits the Knicks could be helpless to stop him again. It's all up to Bryant.

"I'm sure at the Garden his lights come on and we'll have to deal with it," D'Antoni said. "It really depends on Kobe. If he has a great game, Kobe deserves it. If he has a bad game, it's because he wasn't quite on. It doesn't have a whole lot to do with us."

The Knicks' best prayer is Bryant, who is playing with a broken right index finger, gets worn down from last night's 93-87 loss in Cleveland against LeBron James. As D'Antoni said, facing the Lakers on the second night of a back-to-back, "doesn't hurt."

But Bryant, who scored 31 points last night, always has been revved by Broadway.

"Every big superstar likes the Garden; it's their personal stage," Knicks guard Chris Duhon told The Post. "It's their time to perform in the greatest arena in the world. Everybody looks forward to doing it."

"He's a guy that if he chooses to come out and try to have 40 [tonight], he can probably get it done," David Lee said. "If he chooses to get other guys involved, he can do that, too. The whole offense is scripted for him. We're just going to have to hope he misses some shots."

The Lakers own the NBA's best record at 32-10 after last night's loss. The Knicks are at the season's midpoint at 17-24, still sniffing at the eighth seed -- 1½ games behind Chicago.

"It gives us a huge test to see where we are," Duhon said. "Obviously, I think they are the best team in the league. It will show a lot where we are and where we need to be a playoff team."

In their last meeting, a 100-90 Knick loss at Staples Center on Nov. 24, Bryant scored a workman-like 34 points. His previous Garden high was 46 in 2003.

D'Antoni will mix it up against Bryant tonight, with Wilson Chandler and Jared Jeffries seeing duty, with occasional double-teams and a zone.

"We'll try to throw everything at him," D'Antoni said.

Nets on the brink of making (bad) history

SAN FRANCISCO -- Finding positives in the Nets' 2009-10 disaster might depend on point of view. For example, they have gotten themselves in the history books. True, the entry is under "Worst Start Ever" but at least they made a name for themselves. So what if it's bad? It's better than anonymity.

And tonight in Oakland against the 12-28 struggling (but not nearly as bad as they are) Warriors, the Nets hope to avert another piece of history. Never in the NBA have the Nets suffered three double-digit losing streaks in the same season.

But with runs of 18 and 10 under their belts and with nine straight losses on their current shoulders, this could bring a first. They did it in the ABA, never the NBA.

"Certainly they bother you," team president Rod Thorn said of the Nets' achieved and threatened inglorious marks on history, such as the 0-18 start and the challenge to history's worst record, 9-73.

"Nobody ever wants to have a record like this and losing on a regular basis, yeah, it bothers you. If you're a competitor at all, it has to bother you.

"You want to win games, you want to develop players, [but] I don't care how much better they're getting, it's not worthwhile to lose like this," added Thorn, noting the Nets continue on-going trade talks around the NBA with nothing close.

The Nets look around and see Brook Lopez, a budding All-Star. They spot a swift backcourt in Devin Harris and Courtney Lee. They see Keyon Dooling and Jarvis Hayes. And they wonder, how the heck are we this bad?

"I don't pay attention to that stuff. I'm involved in it and it [stinks], so I try not to pay attention," Lee said. "We're not the worst. Talent wise, I think we can compete with every team in the league. It's effort, knowing the right rotations and doing it."

Only wins can soothe the hurt. Lopez is having a year with All-Star numbers. Big whoop, he said.

"That was a personal goal of mine so achieving it would be nice," Lopez said. "But it's pretty tough to divert attention away from this."

Interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe agrees history has produced far worse teams, even if record disputes -- the Nets at the halfway mark are 3-38, on pace for six wins, bad even for Ivy League football. Vandeweghe notes Harris, Hayes and Dooling still are playing their way into shape. But he also accepts reality.

"On paper it certainly is not [the worst team ever]," Vandeweghe said. "Sometimes, it's difficult to search for positives. . . . The low-hanging fruit is the negative. Everyone can see that. But you also have to tell them, 'This is our record. This is the reality and we got ourselves here.' "

So how do they get out of this mess?

"Every day is a new day, every day is a chance to get better. That's the way you've got to approach it," Harris said. "It's tough to deal with on a daily basis. It is."

Second half should be brutal for Spurs

Excluding utter catastrophe, Spurs forward Tim Duncan will get the one point he needs to celebrate his 20,000th NBA tally tonight. That is a virtual slam dunk, although given Duncan's repertoire, the milestone basket is more likely to come on a 15-foot bank shot.

If only the rest of the Spurs' season could be so automatic.

Heading into the second half, which they open with Game No. 42 against Houston at the AT&T Center, the Spurs are 25-16, good enough for fourth in the Western Conference and on trajectory for their 12th consecutive 50-win season.

Congrats, Spurs. Now for the hard part.

The Spurs' next 41 games appear to pose a greater threat than their first 41. Twenty-four of them are on the road, where they are 8-9 this season. Twenty-eight are against teams better than .500, against whom they are 8-14.

The schedule sets up for a rugged march to the finish for the Spurs, who will need to improve just to equal their first-half mark.

“The effort is there,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “We're playing competitively, but we're not getting over that hump. As long as we stay dedicated to the fundamentals of the system, and are patient with each other, we'll get there.

“If we lose those things, then we have a problem.”

For much of the Popovich era, the Spurs have been a renowned second-half team, pacing themselves to peak in March and April. In the ultra-competitive West, which features 11 teams above .500 this season, there is danger in resting too much on the past.

If the Spurs win at the same rates against over-.500 teams and sub-.500 teams in the second half as they did in the first, their final record projects to 47-35. Last season, Utah snuck into the playoffs as the West's eighth seed at 48-34.

It would be a fool's exercise to project the Spurs, participants in every postseason since Duncan arrived in 1997, out of the playoffs in January. Still, that projection illustrates how razor-thin the margin for error is heading into the second half.

“I look at us like a college freshman team almost,” Popovich said. “We've lost a lot of our corporate knowledge. We haven't played well. We've been inconsistent.”

At times, the Spurs have swung wildly from one extreme to another within the course of the same game.

Case in point, Wednesday's 105-98 loss to Utah, when the Spurs fell behind 12-0, took a 14-point lead with a 25-0 run, then faltered to the finish.

The good news for the Spurs is they believe there is more room for improvement this season than in others.

“I think we'll be OK,” said DeJuan Blair, the Spurs' rookie starting center. “There's a little buzz we have right now, but we'll come around.”

Blair says this with confidence, but nobody can be sure. For now, the only thing even remotely guaranteed is Duncan's next point.

NBA: Malone expected to join Hall this year

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's induction ceremony for the Class of 2010 has been moved from mid-September to Aug. 13, ESPN is reporting.

The switch in dates was likely made to accommodate members of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team -- the original "Dream Team."

Players on the team that captured a gold medal in Barcelona included Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and two members of the Utah Jazz, John Stockton and Karl Malone. They would be inducted as part of the Dream Team.

According to ESPN, the switch in dates was made partly to avoid a conflict with the 2010 World Championships, which will be held Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Istanbul. USA Basketball hopes to fly its current team to Springfield, Mass., to be the Dream Team's official presenter.

Stockton, the NBA's all-time leader in assists and steals, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in September.

Malone played one year longer than Stockton, so he was not eligible for individual induction until this year. The No. 2 scorer in NBA history and two-time MVP is considered a lock to be a first-ballot inductee.

Assuming Malone is elected, this will be the third straight year the Jazz have had someone enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Adrian Dantley was inducted in 2008, coach Jerry Sloan joined Stockton last year, and Malone will almost certainly be part of the Class of 2010.

Race to the MVP: Case dismissed as LeBron outduels Kobe

After a season-series sweep of the Lakers and Kobe, LeBron James seems positioned for another MVP.

I mean, really, The Race wants to know: Is there any reason for ambiguity any longer? Do we even need to debate?

Yeah, sure, we can discuss the third and the fourth or the ninth and the 10th players on this list until Cher stops looking like she's practicing Wicca.

But after Thursday night's Dream Game between LeBron and Kobe -- the Race means between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers -- the argument has been set forth, your honor, and we have a decision. The foreman is ready to approach to the bench.

Now The Race may be brought back into the judge's chambers and told that we did not deliberate long enough, that we did not pore over the facts and the evidence for the appropriate amount of time.

To which we will tell Your Honor, unless there is an entire bone yard in a closet somewhere about which we don't know, and unless that bone yard is brought to us forthwith, we are convinced.

Yes, by virtue of Cleveland's defeat of Los Angeles on Thursday night, which gives LeBron a two-games-to-none sweep of Kobe Bryant this season, The King remains the The King, deserving of yet another MVP award.

Let's face it, the Lakers have better talent around Kobe than the Cavs have placed around LeBron, who is going to be without Mo Williams for four to six weeks.

Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are spry young men, while Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskus are creaky old geezers. Really-well-paid old geezers, but in the twilights of their careers nonetheless.

There is not really another player in the league like Lamar Odom, whose size and versatility make him unique. And Ron Artest, while kooky, remains a lock-down defender on most nights.

But LeBron's presence is so overpowering that he wills the Cavs to victory, as he did Thursday night against the Lakers, a 93-87 win in which James had 37, nine assists, five rebounds and a block, playing even better than he did when the Cavaliers defeated L.A. 102-87 on Christmas Day.

By contrast, in their two head-to-head matchups this year, Kobe has shot a combined 23 of 64 from the floor (36 percent), which is not precisely lifting one's game to stratospheric levels.

The biggest criticism of LeBron is that his outside shot is still suspect. But when you can get to the cup like he did when the score was tied at 87 and he zipped by one, two, three and then four Lakers unscathed, who needs an outside shot.

There is still plenty of basketball left to play this season. But The Race, for one, has seen more than enough to make a premature determination: LeBron has no peer.

1. LeBron James, Cavaliers

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
44	38.7	29.7	7.1	7.8	1.6	1.0	.510	.349	.781

Last Week's Rank - 1
LeBron's shooting percentages are higher than his career averages, his assists are up and his turnovers are down. If you can believe it, he is becoming a more efficient player. Yeah, that's what we like about LeBron, his efficiency.

2. Kobe Bryant, Lakers

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
42	38.4	28.4	5.2	4.5	1.8	0.3	.461	.317	.825

Last Week's Rank - 3
Youngest player in NBA history to score 25,000 points. Now that is a feat. Sadly, when The Race was interviewing Bryant last month, he said he did not think he would play long enough to try to reach Kareem's record. Bryant is going out on an eight-game road trip, which should give some insight into the Lakers' DNA.

3. Kevin Durant, Thunder

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
42	39.8	29.2	7.2	3.0	1.3	0.8	.485	.365	.875

Last Week's Rank - 2
Would you take the Durant, who at 21 already is leading his team to a winning record and has them positioned for the seventh spot in the tough Western Conference, or would you take the 25-year-old Carmelo Anthony, a proven winner and scorer? Tough call.

4. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
37	37.6	29.7	6.4	3.3	1.3	0.4	.469	.366	.861

Last Week's Rank - --
Anthony left The Race for a few weeks due to injury and was probably brought back tardy. But here he is again, healthy and leading his team to five consecutive victories, getting them past that odd stretch in late December when they seemed to momentarily implode.

5. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
41	38.1	25.5	7.9	2.5	1.0	1.2	.480	.389	.883

Last Week's Rank - 6
The Race still remembers seeing Nowitzki play his first NBA game, against Seattle in the Emerald City. He was deer in the headlights, to say the least. At the time, it was unimaginable to think he would become the bedrock he has. Reminds me of another Texas forward who produces on a nightly basis.

6. Tim Duncan, Spurs

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
38	32.3	19.8	10.4	3.2	0.6	1.9	.546	---	.736

Last Week's Rank - 7
This would be the aforementioned Texas forward who produces on a nightly basis. Yes, the guy whines like the Napa Valley, but he is there every night, leading his beleaguered team to victory after victory with double-double after double-double.

7. Steve Nash, Suns

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
43	33.3	18.6	3.1	11.2	0.4	0.2	.538	.427	.942

Last Week's Rank - 4
It's good to see that the fans came to their senses and voted Nash as a starter on the All-Star team instead of Tracy McGrady. (Now if we could only get the Iverson thing fixed.) As we have said in this space all season, Nash is deserving, playing as well as he played in those years he won back-to-back MVPs. However, the Suns are struggling of late, losing five of their last seven.

8. Chris Bosh, Raptors

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
43	35.6	24.2	11.2	2.1	0.6	1.0	.525	.429	.791

Last Week's Rank - 10
Bosh held up his end of the deal and helped the Raptors defeat the Knicks last week, which was a prerequisite to remaining in The Race. He even solidified his spot by helping beat the Mavericks. Since then, Toronto has lost two in a row, back to their inconsistent selves, though Bosh scored 44 in a loss to Milwaukee.

9. Gerald Wallace, Bobcats

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
39	41.6	18.6	11.3	1.9	1.7	1.2	.478	.351	.766

Last Week's Rank - --
As a rule of thumb, The Race is not a big fan of the Bobcats. Too much animus there over the years. But what Wallace is accomplishing cannot be ignored, a double-double (18.6 points, 11.3 rebounds) from a 6-foot-7 forward not to be taken lightly. He and Stephen Jackson have the Bobcats rolling and in the thick of the playoff race.

10. Dwyane Wade, Heat

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
41	36.8	26.9	4.8	6.0	1.8	1.2	.457	.288	.761

Last Week's Rank - 9
Losing by 40 points is almost enough to get Wade kicked out of The Race -- possibly for good. That he remains is an indication of just how highly The Race thinks of his incredible game and the onus that is placed on him to be successful on a nightly basis. It'll be interesting to see how the Heat handle the remainder of the season, knowing they are very average. It'll also be interesting to see how Wade handles the rest of the season, knowing a summer of uncertainty is ahead.